You don’t need to be a landscaping company or a road crew to have these record-breaking temperatures make your job tougher. Finance can get a little crazy from the heat, too.
With most of the U.S. sweltering in above 90 degree temperatures, you might think folks would welcome an overly-air-conditioned cubicle.
But the heat and its effects can take a toll on productivity no matter where you work. Everything from whether that little league game will be canceled to thinking about elderly relatives in this heat can take their mind off work. There’s probably just a lot more chatter in the office about the temperatures!
The last thing you want is for Mother Nature to derail your Finance team’s productivity or even increase your risk of costly errors.
Refocusing them
Here are three ideas to help you redirect attention and beat the heat for as long as it lasts:
Idea #1: Encourage people to stay hydrated. Keep those trips to the water-cooler coming. You’ll quickly gain back any minutes lost with the boost in productivity from a well-hydrated staff. Dehydration impacts everything from concentration to stamina. And it can cause extreme fatigue. Remind folks: Staffers may think that because they had their iced coffee that they’re good to go. Not so. Caffeinated drinks are actually more dehydrating.
Idea #2: Put this plant in your office. Summer flowers can lift moods in the department. But it’s some greenery you probably haven’t thought of that can help conquer summer productivity slumps. That plant? Rosemary. Studies find the scent of rosemary is energizing. Whenever someone could use a little lift, have them rub a sprig between their fingers to release the fragrance into the air. (They could even rub it into their temples as an instant aromatherapy boost.)
Idea #3: Send ’em outside. Out in the hot sun may be the last place many people want to be right now. But encourage your staffers to step out in the heat at least once during the workday. Even two minutes of direct sunlight exposure offers enough Vitamin D to relax a person’s mood and relieve depression. It’s also been found to minimize the risk of many types of cancer.
